USA > Ohio > Fayette County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 71
USA > Ohio > Madison County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 71
USA > Ohio > Pickaway County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 71
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The father of our subject was twice married, rearing a family of four children by his first union, and nine by his second. Our subject was the young- est of the first family, and had two sisters, Mary and Rebecca, and one brother, John. The mother of our subject was born in December, 1809, and died February 17, 1838, having been married just seven years. The father was very wealthy, and at his death left an estate of six hundred and eighty acres of land in Range Township. He was a Democrat in politics. casting his first vote for Andrew Jackson in 1836.
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Solomon McClimans grew to manhood on the farm in Range Township, and made his home with his father until he was twenty-five years of age. October 15, 1861, he was married to Eliza Ann Henry, who was born in Ross County, this State, June 14, 1841. She is the daughter of Hugh and Maria (Rogers) Henry, both natives of Ross County, and after her marriage with our subject lived for five years on the home farm. In 1865, they purchased three hundred and eighteen acres, where they now reside, upon which they removed the following year. In addition to the property just mentioned, Mr. McClimans owns one hundred and fifty-seven acres one and one-half miles north of Danville, which he purchased in 1883.
To Mr. and Mrs. McClimans have been born three children: Herman Albertis, who married Mirte Yates, and resides in Range Township, where they have one son, Wilbur; Ella May and Charles William are at home. Though not a poli- tician, Mr. McClimans casts his vote for Demo- cratie candidates, and served his township as Trustee for eight years. He has been School Director in the Danville district since locating here, and possesses the entire confidence of his friends and neighbors.
W ILLIAM H. GUY. This well-known and honored representative of an old and prominent family of Madison County, of which he is a native, is one of its most progressive and successful farmers and stock-raisers, and is the proprietor of one of the most beautiful and valu- able farms within its borders, the farm being per- feet in its appointments, which are modern; its soil cultivated after the most approved methods of ag- riculture; and finely graded stock of noted breeds are in its pastures.
Mr. Guy, who resides on his farm five miles cast of Mechanicsburg, was born in Pike Township, May 2, 1838, and has always made it his home. He is a son of William Guy, who was a native of Vermont, and came to Ohio with his parents, James and Mary Guy, when he was a small boy.
They were also natives of Vermont, and were of English descent. The mother of our subject was Adelaide Fullington in her maiden days, and was a native of Vermont. Her parents were George and Rebekah (Greeley) Fullington, her mother, who was born in Vermont, being a relative of the dis- tinguished Horace Greeley. She was likewise of English descent, and was a small child when her par- ents brought her to Madison County, of which they were early settlers. Here she grew to womanhood, was married to the father of our subject, and they began their wedded life on an unimproved farm in Pike Township.
Mr. Guy worked assiduously to develop his land, first building a log house for a dwelling, in which he and his family lived until 1848, when he erected the good brick house in which he still makes his home. He is now an old man, who has passed the eighty ninth milestone of the long journey from the cradle to the grave, and he is now peace- fully and calmly awaiting life's great end. He has been deprived of the companionship of his wife, who died in her seventy-sixth year. They were the parents of six sons and three daughters, six of whom are living: Edwin A., a resident of Cham- paign County; Henry C., who lives in Pike Town- ship; William H .; C. W., a resident of Pike Town- ship; Clara, wife of Charles Phellis; and Walter F., a resident of Pike Township; Mary J., who married John O. Dye, is dead; Rebekah, who married Charles W. Williams, is now deceased; Lewis died at the age of two years.
William H. Guy is the fourth child and third son of the family. He early displayed good talents as a scholar, and was given a liberal education, at- tending first the district school of his native place, and afterward pursuing his studies at Mechanics- burgh and subsequently at Delaware. He was thus well fitted for any occupation in life that he might decide upon, and having been reared to that of a farmer, his tastes turned in that direction, and agri- culture in its various branches has been his life work. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-eight years old, gaining a deep insight into practical farming, and his father then gave him the farm upon which he now resides in his native township.
RESIDENCE OF WM.H. GUY , PIKE TP., MADISON CO., OHIO.
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There were no buildings upon the place, and our subject may well take pride in the fact that the handsome, modern improvements that now adorn it and render it, with its picturesque surroundings, one of the finest estates in the county, are the result of his own labors. Hle settled on his homestead three years after his marriage in the fall of 1866, and is constantly adding to its value by able manage- ment. He and his family are extensive land-holders, owning fifteen hundred and seventy acres of land of surpassing fertility, nearly all of which are in Pike Township. The buildings are of a high order of rural architecture, including ample barns, gran- aries, etc., and an elegant two and one-half story frame house, built in 1885, heated throughout with steam, and having all the conveniences of the best- constructed city dwellings. The house is finely fin- ished as to its interior and handsomely furnished, and the grounds around it are adorned with large evergreens and other evidences of a cultivated taste, which make the place a charm to the eye and a very pleasant feature in the landscape. A view of this lovely home is elsewhere shown.
Mr. Guy is one of our most extensive stock raisers, keeping none but the best, and is noted far and wide for his fine herd of Short-horns, for his Shropshire sheep, for his Poland-China hogs, and for his valuable French coach horses. He is a man of a broad, cultured mind, of a frank and generous disposition, possessing firmness and resolution withal, and is truly public-spirited, delighting in the prosperity that his native county has attained, and using his influence to further its interests. He is a Republican, always loyal to his party, and has mingled in the public life of his community from time to time. He was Trustee and Assessor of the township for several years, and while serving in those capacities was potent in securing public improvements.
Mr. Guy and Miss Sarah M. Oyler were united in marriage September 27, 1866, and theirs is a congenial union, fraught with true happiness to themselves and their household and to all who have come under their influence in the passing years. One son and two daughter have been born unto them, as follows: Charles Phellis, a graduate of the High School at Mechaniesburgh, whence he
went to the State University at Columbus, which he attended three years; Alice Rebekah, a graduate of the High School at Mechanicsburgh and of Harcourt Place Seminary at Gambier, Ohio, and Eva M., a pupil in the same institution. Mrs. Guy was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., February 22, 1845, a daughter of William G. and Rebekah (Phellis) Oyler the father, a native of England- and the mother born in Vermont. She was a niece of Charles Phellis, Sr., by whom she was educated at the female seminary of Cleveland, Ohio. She came to Madison County when she was seventeen years old. A lady of rare excellence of character, she is gifted with tact and good taste, is an admir- able housewife, and knows full well how to make home pleasant and happy.
R EV. THOMAS B. ATKINS, who resides in Plain City, was born in Preble County, Ohio, March 15, 1832. He is a son of Thomas Atkins, a native of South Caro- lina, who came to Ohio in 1830, and located in the county where his son was afterward born. Later, he removed to Rush County, Ind., where he made his home on a farm until his death, which occurred in 1891, when he reached the very advanced age of eighty-six. He was a prominent and official member of the Presbyterian Church, and was of English descent. The family is noted for long life, and our subject's grandmother lived to reach the age of ninety-three.
Thirteen children made up the household into which our subject was born. The eldest one died in infancy, and the remainder grew to man's and woman's estate. Six of the family are now liv- ing, four sisters and two brothers. Our subject is the sixth child and fifth son in this large circle. His first education was obtained in the district schools of Rush County, Ind., in 1851, and later he attended the Rushville Academy for three years, taking a elassical course, after which he en- tered the college at Monmouth, Ill., remaining for three years, and there completing his classical course. During this time, he taught in connection
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with his own pursuit of an education. In the spring of 1861, he was licensed to preach under the United Presbyterian Church, and after four years in this connection, he was transferred to the Old-school Presbyterian Church. His first charge was at Newcastle, Pa., and afterward he served the churches at Mt. Carmel. Thornton, Bellbrook and Delaware, before coming to Plain City, where he has now been preaching for four years.
It was while residing at Bellbrook, Ohio, that the Rev. Mr. Atkins was united in marriage on the 10th of January, 1868, with Miss Carrie Morris, a native of Greene County, Ohio. They are the parents of one son, G. Glenn, who was born in 1869, and to whom they have given a liberal and professional education. At the age of nineteen, he graduated at the Ohio State Univer- sity at Columbus, and two years later took his diploma in the law school at Cincinnati. He is now taking a theological course at Yale College, at New Haven, Conn.
M ATHIEW W. MARK. One of the best- known residents of Fayette County is Mr. Mark, whose birth occurred within its bor- ders seventy-one years ago. He is at pres- ent residing in Concord Township, where he is engaged in superintending the cultivation of his fine tract of land. He is the son of Peter and Mary (Legore) Mark, natives of Pennsylvania, where the father's birth occurred in 1776, and the mother's four years later.
The parents of our subject were married in the Keystone State, and came to Ohio in 1810, residing for a few years in Ross County. In 1815, they made their advent into Fayette County and located on the tract of land which is the present property of our subject, and which was then in its original wildness. Neighbors were few and far between when the elder Mr. Mark located upon his one hundred and sixty acres, which he set about indus- triously to improve. lle departed this life in 1854, in which year the mother also died.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mark had born to them twelve children, only three of whom are living, three sons, one of whom resides in Iowa, one in Missouri and our subject. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics, Mr. Mark was an active Whig. He of whom we write was born Angust 30, 1821, on the old home- stead, where he has passed his entire life. He com- menced going to school when six years of age, but was permitted to attend only three months until reaching his fifteenth year. Ile aided his father in clearing and preparing the land for cultivation, and has watched with interest the gradual evolu- tion of this country from its original wildness into beautiful and productive fields.
In 1842, Miss Hannah Kirkpatrick became the wife of our subject. She was the daughter of Jolin and Elizabeth (Bush) Kirkpatrick, both of whom are deceased. The father was a very early settler in Jasper Township, locating here in 1820. To them were born five children, only two of whom are living. Mrs. Mark was born September 16, 1825, in this township, and by her union with our subjeet has become the mother of twelve children, nine of whom are living. One son, John W., was a soldier in the late war; he is at present residing in Piekaway County. Susan E., Mrs. Miller, makes her home in Nebraska; Elizabeth is Mrs. I. M. Sollars; P. Lewis was the next in order of birth; Rachael F. Slagle, Adine E .; Effie M., Mrs. Sea brook, resides in Nebraska; Annie L. and James L. P. Lewis is a minister in the Methodist Episco- pal Church.
Our subject and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the above-named church, where Mr. Mark was Trustee for fifty years and Class- leader for many years. He has been Sunday-school Superintendent, and contributes generously to the spread of the Gospel; at present he is serving as Steward. In politics, he of whom we write is a Republican and has served his fellow-towns- men in the capacity of Road Supervisor, during which time there was great improvement made in this district. He has been a member of the School Board of this locality for nine years, and is also identified with the Township School Board.
The landed possessions of our subject aggregate
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two hundred and seventy-five acres, almost all of which has been placed under improvement. Ile worked hard and industriously during his earlier years, and at the present time is living in the full enjoyment of the results of his labors, surrounded by a host of friends and relatives. During the late war he was drafted into the one hundred days' service, but was not accepted on account of physi- cal disability.
OIIN IIENRY, who is engaged in the livery business in Circleville, and is an enterpris- ing man, claims New York as the State of his nativity. He was born on the 4th of March, 1847, in Steuben County, and is a son of Alex Henry, a native of Dublin, Ireland. When quite young, his father came to America. Ilis first location was made in Canada, whence he removed to Maryland, and afterward went to New York. He there engaged in farming and stock- raising, shipping stock quite extensively. Ile married Elizabeth Dunlap, a native of Belfast, Ireland. In his political affiliations, he was a Democrat and in religious belief he was a Catholic. His death occurred in 1882, and his wife passed away in New York in 1884. In their family were eight children, six of whom are yet living.
The subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth. He was reared in the usual man- ner of farmer lads and his early education was supplemented by a course in the Academy. Ile remained at home until sixteen years of age, when, in 1863, he started Westward, traveling through Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He represented, as its traveling salesman, a large elothing house of New York City. His health failing him, he went to Texas in 1866, hoping to be benefited by a change of climate, and continued in business as a representative of the New York house. He was one of the first commercial trav- elers in Texas. He traveled by team all over that State, but his principal route was between Galves- ton and Houston. He spent two years in the Lone Star State and then retired from that line of busi-
ness. In 1868, he bought a hotel in Washington County, lowa, which he operated for two years and then sold out. He was next again employed as a traveling salesman for the firm for which he had formerly worked, his route being through Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. He embarked in business in Circleville in 1873, purchasing the livery stable of Bechtell & Stooker, and now has the largest and finest stable in the city, it being well- equipped with a nice line of carriages and turn- outs, while his barns show some of the finest horses in this locality.
Mr. Henry was married in Circleville, in 1867, to Miss Maggie E. Feney, a native of this city. Six children have been born of this union: Joseph F., who is engaged in business with his father; Stephen J., Marie II., John E., Mary E. and James D).
Mr. Henry owns a fine farm of one hundred acres on the Scioto Bottoms, Pickaway Township. This is a well-improved tract of land, which he rents, and it yields to him a good income. His own pleasant home residence is situated on Frank- lin Street. In connection with his property, he owns a fine undertaking establishment, which he purchased in April, 1891. It is located on Court Street and he is now doing a good business in this line. In politics, Mr. Henry is a Democrat, and has served as a delegate to the county and State conventions. He is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and contributes liberally to its support. Ile is a pleasant, genial gentleman, well known throughout the community, and his per- sonal appearance is pleasing.
L EVI HOPKINS. This name will be imme- diately recognized as that of one of the most prominent residents of Fayette County. Ile is a fine representative of the progressive farmer and his industry and perseverance have been rewarded, as his fertile and productive farm will show. His estate, which is pleasantly located in Madison Township, will compare favorably with any in this section. Mr. Hopkins is a native of
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this State, having been born in Buckskin Town- ship, Ross County, May 9, 1824, to Mathew and Sarah (Harper) Hopkins.
The father of our subject was born June 6, 1796, in Washington County, Pa., and was a lad of ten years when he came to Ross County with his par- ents. Ilis father, the grandfather of our subject, Edward Hopkins, had purchased three hundred acres of land, which, at the time of his death, was divided among his three sons. The maternal grandmother of our subject, Rebecca Marlin, was born on the Atlantic Ocean and was a relative of William Penn.
The mother of our subject was born in Maryland in 1797, and came to Ohio with an elder sister when quite young, her parents being dead. She was married to Mathew Hopkins February 28, 1819, and became the mother of four children, of whom our subject was the youngest but one. Mrs. Hopkins departed this life September 16, 1827, when Levi was three years of age. The father, April 3, 1828, was married a second time, which union resulted in the birth of four children.
Of the brothers and sisters of our subject, Re- becca, the eldest, married Adam Day and died at Hillsboro, Highland County, this State, leaving a family of seven children, two of whom died in the Union army. William, the second child, was a soldier during the late war in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, and losing his life near Vicksburg, was buried on the banks of the Mississippi River. Our subject was the next in order of birth, and Maria, who married John E. Bridwell at Leesburgh, Highland County, this State, was the youngest in the family.
He of whom we write received a fair education in the common schools and began to do for him- self on attaining his eighteenth year, still making his home with his father. May 24, 1858, he was mar- ried to Miss Rachael A. King, of Fayette County, where she was born May 21, 1832, and was a daugh- ter of John and Rachael (Ilixon) King. Mr. Hop- kins with his wife resided in Ross County and operated the old farm until the decease of his father, which occurred February 18, 1878. He re- ceived $200 from his father's estate, and the first property which came into his possession was the
two hundred acres which were contained in his present farm. His land is under thorough culti- vation and the comfortable residence and numer- ous outbuildings attest to the thrift and industry of its owner.
The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins are Marcella, who was born June 26, 1859, mar- ried Alvaro Taylor and has a family of five chil- dren; John Ellsworth, born June 25, 1862, makes his home in Pickaway County and is the father of two children; James Wilber, who was born Octo- ber 5, 1866, is married and has one child; Harley Lawson, who was born December 11, 1870, is at home, and Celia, born October 8, 1865, died in infancy.
In polities, our subject in early life was an old- line Whig and cast his first Presidential vote in 1848 for Gen. Taylor. On the formation of the Republican party, he voted for Fremont, but is now a Prohibitionist. Although not in any sense an office-seeker, Mr. Hopkins did efficient service as Trustee in Buckskin Township, Ross County. With his wife and family, he is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which denomination he has been Steward, Trustee and Class-leader.
John King, the father of Mrs. Hopkins,was born March 6, 1786, in Loudoun County, Va., and her mother was born in Ohio, April 12, 1792. They were married February 25, 1808, in Ross County, this State, and in 1813 came to this county and located on the farm where the father died. They had a family of seven sons and three daughters, viz .: Bennett, Sarah II., Timothy H., John, Reuben, Wesley, William, Elizabeth, Rachael A., and James C. Mrs. King died December 9, 1843, and May 24, 1845, her husband was married to Alcina Cherry, who departed this life in September, 1878. On his first marriage, Mr. King was dressed in a home-spun hunting shirt and buckskin breeches and moccasins made by himself out of the raw hide, he being a shoemaker. His bride was decked in a checkered or cross-barred cotton, woven by her father, and her shoes were made by the bride- groom, Mr. King shooting the squirrels and tanning the hides out of which they were made. They went direct from the altar to the sugar-camp. where they held their infare. Their first house was made
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of round poles, clapboard roof, puncheon floor, and chimney made of sticks and mud, serving the double purpose of heat and light. The furniture used in this rude dwelling was of the most primi- tive construction, the cupboard being made of split boards resting on pins in the wall and holding a few pewter plates, wooden knives and forks, wooden bowls, a gourd and hunting-knife. The bread was baked in the ashes and the pies baked on leaves. Mr. and Mrs. King were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and many times entertained the itinerant preacher. In 1820, Mr. King was licensed to exhort, and in 1823 was ordained a Deaeon and ten years later an Elder, which office he held until his decease, February 1, 1868, having been a minister for forty years.
W ILLIAM H. MORRIS was a native of Piekaway County, born September 20, 1835, a son of one of its early settlers, and his death, August 2, 1890, deprived his community of the services of a valued citizen, who had been active in 'ts agricultural and other interests. He was a son of Ezekiel and Catherine (Bowman) Morris, who were among the first to settle in Wal- nut Township.
Our subject passed his boyhood days in very much the same way that other farmers' boys did in pioneer times, and in early life he gave his attention to farming. Later, he had control of a flour mill, and beside manufacturing flour did a thriving grain business. He was much prospered and acquired a valuable property. He did much to develop the interests of the township, and took pride in the steady growth of his native county, materially adding to its wealth by his industry and business energy.
Mr. Morris attended the distriet school in his youth, but he was mostly self-educated in the truest sense of that term, ever making good use of his intellectual faculties, and being gifted with that plain common sense that often serves a man far better than mere book learning. His name stood high in financial circles, and his reputation
was untarnished. He was well informed in poli- ties, and was a Democrat from beginning to end. When death fell upon him in the midst of an active and useful life, he was greatly missed, not only in the home circle, where he was all that a kind husband and father could be, but also in the business world of which he had formed a part.
Our subject was eminently happy in his domes- tie hfe among his wife and children. His marriage with Miss Mary J. Cromley was solemnized March 4, 1868, and of their union three children survive: Arthur C., Clarence E. and Mary A.
Mrs. Morris was born January 15, 1842, in Pick- away County, and is a daughter of William and Sarah Cromley, early pioneers of Walnut Town- ship, of whom an account appears in the biography of her brother, the Hon. T. E. Cromley. Mrs. Morris is the owner of four hundred and thirty acres of land, and under her able management her property yields her a comfortable income. She is a lady of high character and standing in the com- munity, possessing many pleasing attributes that have won her many friends, and she is an active member of society.
ELOS R. GRAHAM. It is with pleasure that we record a life sketch of one who is so prominent, both as an old resident and as a brave and loyal soldier of his eoun- try. Mr. Graham, whose home is in Scioto Town- ship, Pickaway County, was born here, August 10, 1840, and his father, Alonzo D. Graham, who was born in New York in 1814, was a son of William Graham, a New Yorker of Scotch descent. The grandfather lived upon a farm, which he carried on until his death at the age of sixty-five. Ile was a Whig in his political affiliations.
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